Quote: I not sure why mr lyons demonstrates it this badly in the video though, I've seen him demonstrate much better...a few technical mistakes - shoulders coming way up being the most obvious.

I'm a bit at a loss as to why the videos on his site are so poor. Based on his teachers and experience, he shouldn't look like that. His blocks look almost more Shorin than Goju at times. None of the elbow movements I associate with Higaonna's students.

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Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft. - Teddy Roosevelt

At the moment Buddha became enlightened he touched the earth to witness his enlightenment, he touched the sky to show the connection between heaven and earth, and he spun the wheel to show the circle of life.

This is a simple block that can be used in complex ways, it is the most obvious (once explained) to the concept that Karate is both Offensive and defensive or as I like to call it counter offensives.

This move at green belt was explained to me as a blocking striking movement. Deflect a head strike and slapping the grion (supposeitly Miyagi's favor move). Or the opposite deflecting a chest/grion strike or kick, palming the nose or chin.

As you progress it becomes block the low kick strike the eyes, trap the rhk and chop the neck, push away take down.To deflect the high punch, strike eyes and grion or lower abdomen all the way to trapping two arm elbow over elbow arm break/throw, one of the predominate throw &lock in Praying Mantis kung-fu and others Chinese systems. Just to name a few applications.

What some see as just a pretty block or a confused motion, has multiple purposes. And is a prime early example of what Tode jujits is all about.

aaah, my favourite block of all this was introduced to me through the Tensho kata. i won't bother repeating all its uses here as thats been done enough, but we learnt one application in class where your opponent is hanging onto the front of your gi. don't know the exact name, but you manage to get them into a rather painful arm lock O.o ...don't know if thats any use to this thread, but oh well

Quote:but we learnt one application in class where your opponent is hanging onto the front of your gi.

Do you mean like a two handed grab? If so that is a good application. You can do an upward strike with the left and downward with the right while opponent has you grabbed or is reaching in.Also stepping off to an angle will throw him off balance opening up targets for the finishing blows. Neck,back,kidneys etc...or as you mentioned focusing both hands on one arm for an armlock,almost like a key lock,pulling the wrist downward fromthe back while lifting the elbow upward. Submit,or I'll break it....... Great move,great thread!

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